If we go ahead with using the beta feature, we will need an icon to represent it.

I'm using the following image: https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/c/mediawiki/extensions/UniversalLanguageSelector/+/1235324/18/resources/images/uls-rewrite-ltr.png

@Pginer-WMF, @SGautam_WMF thoughts about using this image for the beta feature? I've taken it from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Language_Selector_Designs.pdf

Some existing beta features (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Preferences#mw-prefsection-betafeatures):

@abi_ is the coded version of it is looking similar to the mockup you took from commons doc?

Because there is an option to automatically enable beta features, we should consider aiming for close feature parity before exposing the beta feature, or opt out of the automatic enrollment.

In T418187#11643192, @abi_ wrote:

@Pginer-WMF, @SGautam_WMF thoughts about using this image for the beta feature? I've taken it from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Language_Selector_Designs.pdf

Normally beta features are represented as a more abstrated version of the UI. Part of it is to make them suitable for all languages (which autonyms won't be a problem in this case, but something like "Search" may be better to avoid) and part is in terms of visual style (looking consistent with the illustrations of other beta features).

In T418187#11643510, @SGautam_WMF wrote:

@abi_ is the coded version of it is looking similar to the mockup you took from commons doc?

That is correct.

In T418187#11643582, @Nikerabbit wrote:

Because there is an option to automatically enable beta features, we should consider aiming for close feature parity before exposing the beta feature, or opt out of the automatic enrollment.

I will verify this. The current plan is to not have this feature auto enabled.

In T418187#11643656, @Pginer-WMF wrote:

In T418187#11643192, @abi_ wrote:

@Pginer-WMF, @SGautam_WMF thoughts about using this image for the beta feature? I've taken it from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Language_Selector_Designs.pdf

Normally beta features are represented as a more abstrated version of the UI. Part of it is to make them suitable for all languages (which autonyms won't be a problem in this case, but something like "Search" may be better to avoid) and part is in terms of visual style (looking consistent with the illustrations of other beta features).

So I'll hide the "Search languages" text. What about the "Suggested" and "All languages" sub heading?

Current plan:

1. Go ahead with the beta approach, but ensure auto-enable is disabled.
2. Update the description and title to be less technical
3. Update the beta feature image
4. Announce the decision more widely within the team to gather feedback.

So I'll hide the "Search languages" text. What about the "Suggested" and "All languages" sub heading?

Ideally the image should be a bit more schematic (looking more like a mockup than a final UI). So "Suggested" and "All languages" would be replaced by grey rectangles representing abstracted text. In any case, visual style missalignment of the illustration may not be a blocker, since the proposed image is recognizable and we can update the image later.

I've updated the beta feature description

Additional comment on the description: full feature parity is not a goal of this rewrite.

Here's the latest screenshot from the beta features:

We're going to go ahead with the Beta feature approach.

The screenshot for the beta feature will be updated at a later point.

Change #1254149 had a related patch set uploaded (by Abijeet Patro; author: Abijeet Patro):

[operations/mediawiki-config@master] Enable ULS rewrite beta feature

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1254149

Change #1254149 merged by jenkins-bot:

[operations/mediawiki-config@master] Enable ULS rewrite beta feature

https://gerrit.wikimedia.org/r/1254149

Mentioned in SAL (#wikimedia-operations) [2026-03-23T07:03:50Z] <kartik@deploy2002> Started scap sync-world: Backport for [[gerrit:1254149|Enable ULS rewrite beta feature (T418187 T253303)]]

Mentioned in SAL (#wikimedia-operations) [2026-03-23T07:22:50Z] <kartik@deploy2002> kartik, abi: Backport for [[gerrit:1254149|Enable ULS rewrite beta feature (T418187 T253303)]] synced to the testservers (see https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mwdebug). Changes can now be verified there.

Mentioned in SAL (#wikimedia-operations) [2026-03-23T07:45:20Z] <kartik@deploy2002> Finished scap sync-world: Backport for [[gerrit:1254149|Enable ULS rewrite beta feature (T418187 T253303)]] (duration: 41m 30s)

Shouldn't we write and publish this in the tech news?

@Pginer-WMF and @Iniquity, is this good wording for tech news: The Universal Language Selector, the MediaWiki extension that enables users to change interface language, access other language versions of projects, and manage language settings, has been refreshed in Beta. The update introduces a more modern and simplified user experience.

In T418187#11758453, @STei-WMF wrote:

@Pginer-WMF and @Iniquity, is this good wording for tech news: The Universal Language Selector, the MediaWiki extension that enables users to change interface language, access other language versions of projects, and manage language settings, has been refreshed in Beta. The update introduces a more modern and simplified user experience.

Sounds good to me. (CC @GGalofre-WMF )

We'd like to wait a bit more before sharing in tech news. I will reach out once we know the feature is in a more suitable state for sharing. @Iniquity @STei-WMF